Being on the verge of an 18 year old girl was hard for Emma, especially when you struggled with school and what college you were going to get into and having very over baring parents. Oh, and a job from hell! Don't forget also dealing with a break up from a guy you dated most through highschool and lost your virginity to.
When Emma got downstairs to her bedroom, she called Manny Santos, one of her closest friends. Manny knew her number by heart and answered, "Hey clumsy."
Emma groaned and fell onto her bed. "Hey Manny."
Not only were her and Manny always together at school and after school, but they also both worked at Bricks Cafe and Bar. Cafe by day, Bar by night. It was pretty cool, other than the fact the boss sucked. Emma had accidentally smashed 20 cups that were piled in a box together today and he went absolutely bat shit crazy. Even took it out of her next pay check! And Emma was one of his best waitress'! And bartender. He wasn't suppose to let someone under 18 bartend, but he knew Emma was one his best workers so let it slide. Their little secret (Since Emma loved the money).
"Didn't he yell at you last week too?" Manny asked.
Manny was confused because this wasn't like Emma. At school, the blonde was like every teacher's pet. Some of the guys Emma dated got annoyed by how much she put work and studying in front of them. Emma Nelson was also a control freak, with very organizing habits. Not clumsiness. So this was unusual.
"Yes." Emma mumbled, sitting up and ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. She had hazel orbs that saddened when she explained, "I'm barely sleeping. I'm still waiting for my acceptance letter to come in. I think we have new neighbors cause theirs movers always making noise during my study hours! And Peter won't stop calling me every night-"
"Ugh," Manny snorted, "Peter needs to stop! Move on! And you need to stop pitying him. Answering his calls only gives him hope."
Emma frowned, "You think?"
"Yup!" Manny was quiet for a moment until she asked, "Have you gotten your acceptance letter yet? I got mine today."
Emma gasped, lifting up from the bed and dashed out of her room, still clenching the phone at her side as she ran up the stairs, almost running into her father.
"I'm walkin' here!" joked Snake, holding his mug of coffee and made sure none spilled as his daughter ran by.
"Sorry!" she yelped but kept running to the front door, whipping it open and hopping out. "Where is it, where is it?" she had grabbed the mail, and went through it before squealing and ripped the right one open.
Please be good! PLEASE BE GOOD! Of course Highschool hasn't even ended yet, but it was good to know you were accepted to the University you always wanted. Her parents might of thought it was a little far away (6 hours), but Emma didn't seem to mind to think much of it. She could visit whenever!
"Emma what is it?" Her mother, Spike, asked. She came to the door where Emma raced back in, jumping up and down.
"I got in, I got in!"
Spike smiled and laughed softly as Snake came over grinning and put an arm around his wife. They knew Emma would. It was crazy Emma thought there was a chance she wouldn't make it in.
"Now." Spike put her hands out and stepped closer to her daughter slowly, "This is just one of the choices. Let the other acceptance letters come before you chose, and lets just think long and hard about which-"
"Mom." Emma rolled her eyes but smiled sadly to her mother/best friend. Her Mom was a teen mother when she had Emma, so it was always them. Them against the world. It seemed Spike had trouble letting that go. But Emma was all grown up now, she wanted out of here! She was destined for better things then trapped by over baring, protective parents. She was a smart girl.
"We're just saying it doesn't have to be a solid commitment right now. You still have a few more months of school." Snake reminded.
Emma snickered, already knowing her choice but just nodded to her parents to make them feel better. She then gasped, remembering Manny on the other end on the phone in her hand.
"Manny?"
"I'm here." She replied, "I'm trying to stop the ringing in my ear though." She teased.
Emma laughed and sat on the couch in amazement. "I can't believe it. I got in."
"We are gonna look so hot with our little scrubs." Both of them were going for nursing, though, Manny wanted to stay in town.. But they'd always keep in touch. They were best friends ofcourse!
Emma laughed and hung up soon after having made plans with Manny and some friends to go out to celebrate. Manny had already just turned 18 but that didn't matter, the bar they worked at always let them enter and even drink.
When Emma got ready and ran back downstairs, she was stopped by her father. "Where do you think you're going, Emma?"
He said on the couch with Spike, sharing popcorn and watching a movie. Spike looked on in disbelief, "You told us you'd watch Jack tonight."
Her daughter looked ready to go out. In high heels and a skirt that made Spike weary. Emma was grown up now, and now men, not boys, men looked her way. Spike wasn't sure she wanted her to go out like that.
"Mom, I want to go out with my friends. I always watch Jack!" Emma complained..
Spike pouted a bit, looking at Snake, but he gave her a look which said it was true. Emma was young, she needed her own life. "Well. .Alright."
"Ask Imogen to do it! Jack loves her!" Emma mentioned his other babysitter and dashed out after that, not looking back.
(((*))))
The next morning, Emma rolled over, still wearing her last nights outfit. Well, at least she knew she looked good. She got up, rubbing her forehead with a groan at the migraine she had. Manny had made her drink way too much!
After pulling herself to the bathroom, Emma put the shower on and turned to the mirror before she undressed. She looked tired, a little mascara under her left eye that she now wiped off with a Kleenex and she giggled to herself shaking her head. She might of went a little crazy lastnight. That wasn't like her but she deserved it after all the studying and hard work she did this year.
"Emma! Breakfast!" she heard her mother after jumping out of the shower, and Emma wrapped a white towel around her dripping toned wet body. Her fingers ran through her damp blonde hair and she grabbed her dryer, styling her hair to a nice blow out look with a round brush.
For having a hangover, she looked pretty darn good as she skipped down the stairs with a pair of white shorts and a black tank top that clung to her hour glass body. Her long tanned legs showed off as she went down the steps, swinging around the banister to get to the kitchen.
"I don't think I have an appetite." Emma muttered honestly. She gazed up, to then stop in her tracks a little at the site of some guy sitting with her parents and Jack at the table.
He was an attractive guy (maybe older by a few years). He was WAY too young to be hanging out with her parents though, or atleast hanging out with them and seeming to be enjoying it. Him and Snake were hitting it off like 'buddies'.. maybe the stranger pitied the old man.
"Let me ask again. You're a mechanic from the military?" Snake asked of the stranger with a laugh of happiness and disbelief. He couldn't ask for a better neighbor!
Emma took a wild guess this guy was the reason to the moving trucks she saw and heard all week long. Cool! A hottie for a next door neighbor. Manny would just LOVE the cliché! And view. The mysterious stranger wore dark blue jeans and a fitted white shirt. His muscles were defined and snug around the sleeves of his shirt. It was clear he was in good shape. Military did Snake say?
Meanwhile, Emma caught her mothers look as Spike had heard her daughters 'no appetite' remark. "Could that loss of appetite be due to you coming in late last night missy? Is it possibly from a hangover?"
Emma felt the blush rise to her cheeks, especially when the guy at the table raised his eyes to look at who Spike was talking to and his gaze locked on Emma. He had beautiful stormy blue eyes, and a sexy deep voice too.
"Hey." He greeted smoothly. His voice was like butter. Emma wished she looked as calm and collected as he did, but every hair on her body stood up. He was a gorgeous guy. Handsome as hell.
Snake noticed Emma now too and looked back to Sean, "Emma, this is Sean."
"Our new neighbor." Spike explained.
"Hey." Emma finally greeted back and took another brave step forward to sit down at the table to join them.
"Emma just got into Brown and York." Spike told Sean proudly. Emma noticed him quiet for a moment and then he blinked and didn't seem impressed or something. Emma got a little offended. What was that look for?! Those were extremely good schools!
"That's awesome. Those are good schools." Sean said and then turned his head back to Snake. "You said you had an old caddie?"
"And a mustang, and a red rover." Emma muttered under her breath but they heard her. Snake chuckled, knowing he had a bad habit of collecting old cars. It was a pricey collection. But Sean should appreciate it!
Emma wondered why Sean didn't even crack a smile. He was even getting up to leave. He didn't even glance once more at her.
Snake rubbed his hands together like he was making food. "Let me show you my pride and joy."
The guys got up, Snake looking excited and Sean looking like he wanted to get out of the house as fast as Snake. Emma wondered why he got so tense suddenly? He didn't even say goodbye but thanked her Mother for the beverage.
Emma asked her mom playfully, "Hey, I'm his pride and joy too right?"
"Oh yes honey, he loves you dearly." Spike assured, standing up to collect dishes. "He just loves his cars more."
Emma giggled, but then glanced the way Sean and her father went out into the garage. What a mysterious guy….
"So he's from the army?"
"Yeah. He moved in a week ago. He seems to keeps to himself but your Dad saw him standing by his car in the driveway and the two seemed to click."
"Guys and their engines." Muttered Emma, a curious eye on the door they left out of.
"We were just telling him about Imogen before you came in. How great she is at babysitting."
"Great." Emma said dryly and not sure why that would be a topic to want to talk about.
